Street performers transform downtown into a ‘circus’

Mike Mena, left, and Mike Hughes of the Pogo Dudes perform back flips off of pogo sticks as a large crowd watches during the annual Buskerfest held in downtown Lawrence, Friday, August 24, 2012. The performances continue tomorrow.

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Lawrence Busker Festival 2012

Kids help Jason Divad, Kansas City, Mo., blow out a flame that he used in his performance during the annual Buskerfest held in downtown Lawrence, Friday, August 24, 2012. The performances continue tomorrow.

Flaming Hula-Hoops, sleight of tongue card tricks, Japanese didgeridoo/guitar music — nothing is too strange or random for the Lawrence Busker Festival.

As night fell Friday, downtown Lawrence filled with people watching buskers, or street performers, who came from across the country to show off their talents and trades as part of the three-day festival that ends Sunday.

Music filled the air as event-goers munched on funnel cakes, turkey legs or hot dogs and were entertained by acts both beautiful and bizarre.

Perhaps Jack Franks, owner of Jack’s Franks, described the atmosphere most concisely.

“It’s a circus downtown,” he said.

Franks had stocked up on supplies for his hot dog stand that operates downtown just for this occasion. When the streets get crowded, business goes up.

“Who doesn’t like a circus?” he said after selling three hot dogs.

Besides helping out downtown businesses, the event also painted Lawrence as a welcoming community, said John Archibold of Denver. Archibold, accompanied by a grandson he was visiting, took a lawn chair from act to act, enjoying the scene.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It says (Lawrence) is kind of a friendly and enthusiastic place.”

Tommee Sherwood of Overbrook, plays an accordion and the "boogalator" during Friday night's performances in downtown Lawrence during Buskerfrest.

Skill: Playing the accordion and the “boogalator”

From: Overbrook

Sherwood and the band Zydeco Tougeau filled the streets with the accordion and washboard rhythms that Sherwood calls the “heartbeat” of Cajun music.

But the show had a twist. Sherwood plays a homemade instrument he calls the “boogalator”during performances. The boogalator consists of multiple ropes and pulleys that cause cookie tins to clank or a tambourine to jingle. Made out of hedge, walnut, Christmas lights and a bamboo man with a face, Sherwood said the instrument came from a moment of inspiration.

“It’s a middle-of-the-night sort of invention.”

Name: Debra Jennings of the Braidin’ Maidens

Skill: Complex hair braiding

From: Lawrence

Jennings spends much of her time traveling across the Midwest braiding hair, but for the Busker Festival she had to only walk a few blocks from her house.

Name a braid and she does it: French braid, no problem. Five strands, easy. “The most we do is 13 (strands),” she said.

Jennings said she was using the festival to do a little advertising. Plus, she said, it’s good for the city.

“It adds a charm to Lawrence,” she said.

Schedule

Lawrence Busker Festival is going on through Sunday at various locations throughout downtown. Acts are planned 3 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. today and 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sunday.

Absolutely!!! I saw a lady sitting in a chair in front of Milton's in the middle of the sidewalk. HEr friend was sitting on the sidewalk beside her. A cart with a cooler and some other bags were there and her empty power wheelchair was there as well. I know this lady and her friend well and I don't begrudge them the opportunity to enjoy the weather outdoors or their spot on the sidewalk, but I couldn't help but think of the same thing. If that had been Simon.......

Step into the real world. Video games aren't some evil entity and most children don't spend all of their time on them. Stop demonizing them. Don't get me wrong, I do agree it is nice to see them out and about instead of cooped up. But I don't agree with the specific attack on gaming.